Caravan trade drives east

A caravan road show is to tour northern Vietnam and southern China to promote trade and business exchanges between the two countries, according to a Vietnamese newspaper, Xinhua has reported.

Organised with the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, the event will follow a route from Hanoi to Beihai and give Vietnamese businesses an opportunity to meet other Asian enterprises.

According to Chinese statistics, trade between the countries increased from $8.2 billion (£4 billion) in 2005 to over $9.95 billion (£4.9 billion) last year.

American auto manufacturer Chrysler will have its latest minivan, the Dodge Caravan, assembled in China by local partner Southern Auto who will distribute it through a network of 60 dealers.

The rapid growth of the Chinese economy has led to an increase in domestic car manufacturing. Local firms include Shanghai Automotive, Nanjing Automobile, Geely and Chery.

09/10/2007 17:03:33